FAQs

Services

What does Rainbows do?

The mission of Rainbows United is to enhance the lives of children with special needs and their families by bringing together community resources and providing customized services.

At Rainbows we provide many vital services for children with special needs, birth through age 21, and their families. We are on the leading edge of implementing the most effective therapies for children with special needs. We focus on children and youth, birth through age 21 with special needs.

Who does Rainbows’ serve?

The majority of services are for children with special needs although Kids’ Point childcare serves typically developing children alongside children with special needs.

How many children are served through Rainbows?

During Fiscal Year 2015, Rainbows United served more than 3,500 children, families through our comprehensive programs in Sedgwick and Butler counties. Rainbows United specializes in caring for children with special needs ages birth – 21. FY2015 Annual Report has more.

Where are services for children provided?

Fully 96% of Rainbows’ services continue to be provided in family homes or other community settings accommodating family schedules.

Rainbows’ Kids’ Point early care and education center (3223 North Oliver Avenue) offers center-based programs for children with and without special needs ages 2 weeks - 5 years.

Rainbows’ Kids’ Cove (2258 North Lakeway Circle) houses Rainbows’ Infant/Toddler Services staff serving Sedgwick County, family support services and center-based programs for children with special needs ages 6-21, including after school and all-day latchkey, weekend care, and Camp Woodchuck summer program. More

What is Camp Woodchuck?

Camp Woodchuck is a summer recreational and leisure program for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who are kindergarten enrolled through the year after they graduate from high school. Camp Woodchuck is an appropriate setting for people who have restricted mobility and/or use wheelchairs as their primary form of mobility. More

What is TCM, Targeted Case Management?

As a long-time recognized leader in Kansas, Rainbows' case managers help families overcome barriers. They match the needs of each child and family with available community resources and access to those services. They add a special touch by meeting with other persons involved in the child's life including teachers, therapists and care providers to make certain every aspect is working in the child's best interest. Rainbows uses a family-centered approach encouraging each family to make their own choices and letting the case manager advocate and coordinate the services to make the family's wishes a reality. More

How much does a screening or evaluation cost?

The professionals at Connecting Point provide information and referrals for young children, answer questions and share schedules for monthly developmental screening clinics. A wealth of information awaits you through Connecting Point. Screen for Success is a great place to start. More

What is the ratio of children to staff?

At Kids’ Point each classroom is staffed with a Lead Teacher and two paraprofessionals. Our infant/toddler classes have a child to staff ratio of 2:1 while our 3 – 5 year old classrooms are 4:1.

At Kids’ Cove ratios are often 1:1 and 2:1 with school age children and youth with special needs. More

Are Lead Teachers at Kids’ Point Certified?

Yes. Lead Teachers have a minimum Child Development Certification (CDA), two – four years of college experience in early childhood or Masters degree in early childhood with an emphasis in working with children with special needs.

No expulsion policy

Rainbows will not discontinue or terminate a child from services due to challenging behavior. We provide customized service for each child in our care. For other child care policies read our Parent Handbook.

Funding

What are the major funding sources for Rainbows?

Rainbows United receives funding from many sources, both public and private, including Federal and State education funds (partially through a partnership with USD 259 Wichita Public Schools), United Way of the Plains, Sedgwick County, Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Social and Rehabilitation Services, Medicaid, private insurance, family fees, grants, events, and private individual donations.

What is Rainbows United Charitable Foundation?

Rainbows United Charitable Foundation, Inc. was established in 2003 as a separate 509(a)(3) charitable organization for the purpose of securing the long-term financial stability of Rainbows United, Inc. Originally solely responsible for endowed and planned gifts, RUCF now collects, manages and distributes all private charitable funds supporting Rainbows. A Board of Directors oversees RUCF operations. The role of RUCF is to provide an extra layer of oversight to ensure charitable dollars are used for their intended purpose. More

Leadership

Who is leading Rainbows?

Join our team

What kinds of volunteer opportunities are available?

There are many ways volunteers can help meet the needs of children with special needs and their families in our community. We offer one-time and long-term volunteer opportunities for both individuals and groups. More

Are there current job openings?

Rainbows United is 100% local. Founded in 1972 as a developmental training center for children with severe, multiple disabilities who were ineligible for special education services provided through the public schools. Today Rainbows provides center-based, community-based and home-based service options for children and youth with special needs. Service components added in the past decade include hearing and vision specialty services, family support care, case management services, autism waiver services, supported family living, foster care for children with special needs, therapies, and therapeutic child care. More